The campaigner has been holed up in London for two years

The press conference is now being brought to a close, with Assange giving very little detail on his next move.

He said he would be leaving the Ecuadorian embassy "soon", but did not say when or give any information on the practical details.

Following reports that he requires medical treatment for a heart or chronic lung condition, he confirmed two years of confinement had taken a toll on his health, but did not elaborate.

9:56 am

He is asked whether his exit from the embassy would mean extradition or safe passage to Ecuador, but the answer is unclear.

He says he has filed a criminal complaint against the FBI's activities in Europe against him, and accuses them of "paying bribes" to informers.

He goes on to say there has been no movement in the Swedish investigation into him, despite him repeatedly asking them to come to the UK.

9:52 am

The Ecuadorian ambassador says he will be trying to meet with the UK foreign minister, with the recent legal reforms creating a better atmosphere to try and reach an agreement.

Assange is asked about his health, following reports he is suffering from a heart or chronic lung condition.

He says being detained in various ways for four years, and in the embassy for two years with no outside area or sunlight - at a cost of £7 million to the police - "is an environment in which any healthy person would soon enough find themselves with certain difficulties".

9:47 am

Asked to clarify his statement that he would be leaving the Ecuadorian embassy "soon", Assange gave no further details.

BBC

9:45 am

Assange says he has not been accused of rape - he says the women is Sweden have clearly stated this.

Assange is now taking questions from reporters.

Assange says: "I am leaving the embassy soon, but perhaps not for the reasons [the press] are saying at the moment."

9:37 am

He says despite significant pressure, his asylum has been protected by Ecuador and an understanding has developed in the UK that the position taken by Ecuador is the correct one.

He says people have seen the "abuses" of his rights, and those of others who have been extradited without charge, and a new package of reforms has come into force which he is pleased to see.

Assange reiterates he has not been charged with an offence in the UK or Sweden at any time.

He says the basis on which his asylum was granted was the ongoing US investigation into him and Wikileaks. That investigation has now been going for more than four and a half years, and as of April 25 this year, when the US Department of Justice said it was continuing with a view to pursuing a prosecution.

9:30 am

He says Ecuador will continue to offer Julian Assange its protecting, and to be ready to talk with the British government and the Swedish government.

Assange himself is now speaking. He says it is four years since this situation began, and two years since he was granted political asylum.

He says: "Through all that time, I have not been charged with an offence in the UK or in Sweden and there has been no public indictment in relation to my work in the United States.

"How can it be that such a situation in Europe arises where a person is held and their freedom of movement is restricted and they are kept from their family while a foreign government, the US, builds an ever-larger case against that person and their organisation?

"Europe is meant to be a place where the rule of law is respected, where basic rights are respected. A situation has developed here for me... where basic rights... are no longer respected."

9:27 am

He says over the last two years, there has been no progress for either Assange or the Swedish women who have made the accusations against him.

He says "there has not been justice for anyone. This situation must come to an end. Two years is simply too long. It is time to free Julian Assange, it is time for his human rights to be finally respected."

He says he calls on the international community to guarantee the Wikileaks founder's freedom.

BBC

9:25 am

The press conference is now under way.

Assange is seated alongside the Ecuadorian ambassador in the Ecuadorian embassy.

The ambassador says they are trying to find a political solution to this "impasse".

9:19 am

Julian Assange could be planning to hand himself in to police, after two years holed up inside the Ecuadorian embassy.

Sky News understands the Wikileaks founder is preparing to announce his next move at a press conference this morning, following reports over the weekend that he is in need of medical treatment for a serious health condition.

Australian Assange entered the Ecuadorian embassy in central London in June 2012, as he faced arrest in Sweden over allegations of sexual assault.

He claimed he did not want to go to Sweden to face the accusations - which he denies - for fear he would be extradited to America, where he is under investigation for publishing confidential documents through Wikileaks in 2010.